Oscillating pole recreation device



May 1o, 1966 E. A. BROWN 3,250,532

OSCILLATING POLE RECREATION DEVICE Filed June 19. 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Maly 10, 1966 E. A. BROWN OSCILLTING POLE RECREATION DEVICE 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June i9, 1953 FIG.6

FIG. 7

FIG. 8

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INVENTOR. ERVIN A. BROWN AT TORNEYS United States Patent O 3,250,532OSCILLATING POLE RECREATION DEVICE Ervin A. Brown, 1209 North 78 EastAve., Tulsa, Okla. Filed June 19, 1963, Ser. No. 288,936 3 Claims.' (Ci.272-60) This invention relates to a recreation and amusement device.More particularly, the invention relates to improvements in averticallyvstanding flexible pole functioning as a recreation andamusement device adaptable to be ridden in a swaying or oscillatorymotion by the user.

An object of this invention is to provide a recreation and amusementdevice providing a unique type of physical activity for the user.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new type ofrecreational and amusement device comprising an upstanding flexiblemember and including unique means for ascending and riding the device.

Another object of this invention is to provide a recreation andamusement device comprising an upstanding iiexible pole and includingunique mounting means whereby the pole may rotate a full 360 degreeswhile in use.

Another object of this invention is to provide an amusement andrecreation device consisting basically of an upstanding flexible poleand including an attachment member aihxed to the pole whereby the userthereof may more easily support himself to the pole and includingimproved means of ascending and descending the pole.v

These and other objects and a better understanding of the invention maybe had by referring to the following description and claims taken inconjunction with the attached drawings, in which:

FIGURE l is a side view, shown partially in cross-section of oneembodiment of the recreation and amusement device of this invention.

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 2 2 of FIGURE l.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary side view shown partially in cross-sectionshowing an alternate embodiment of the device of this invention.

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 4 4 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a side view of an additional alternate ernbodiment of theinvention showing the use of a flexible tapered pole.

FIG-URE 6 is a cross-sectional View taken along the line 6 6 of FIGURE5.

FIGURE 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 7 7 of FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 8 8 of FIGURE 5.

This invention may be described as a recreation and amusement device.More particularly, but not by way of limitation, the invention may bedescribed as a recreation and amusement device for use by a ridercomprising a tapered exihle pole adapted to be supoprted substantiallyvertically, said pole ilexible within the elastic limit thereof underthe weight of said rider, removable pliable strap means supported tosaid pole at the upper end thereof and extending downwardly therefrom,an a multiplicity of stirrup means affixed to and extending from saidstrap means at spaced intervals.

Referring now to the drawings and first to FIGURE l an embodiment of therecreation and amusement device of this invention is shown in side viewand partially in cross-section. Basically, the device consists of anelongated substantially sti body member 19 may, and preferably is, oftubular construction. Extending from the body member 10, such as bywelding, are a multiplicity of metallic hand-hold members 12. Thehand-hold mem- ICC bers 12 extending substantially perpendicularly fromthe body member 1t) and in a spaced relationship in the nature of aladder. The upper end of the body member 10 may be provided with anon-slip surface 14 such as by winding tape thereon. A cap 16 is placedat the upper end end of the body member 10,

Supporting body member 10 is a spring member 18. In the embodiment shownin FIGURE l the spring member 18 is a single leaf spring which issupported in the earth 20 in an earth socket member 22. The earth socketmember 22 is of a hollow construction to receive the lower end portionof spring 18. The earth socket member 22 may be tubular or of squarecross-sectional configuration or any other geometrically desirableconfiguration. Spacers 24 may be provided to either side of the lowerportion of spring 18 to fill the interior of socket member 22.

A base or earth flange 26 is provided at the upper end of socket member22 extending parallel to the surface of the earth. A mating flange 28 isprovided to secure the upper end of a spring socket member 28A. Matingflange 28 may be held in place against flange 26 such as by means of abolt 30. A horizontal bottom member 32 supports the lower end of spring18 at the'proper elevation. Earth socket member 22 as previouslyindicated, may be cylindrical so as to receive either a square,rectangular or cylindrical spring socket member 28A. In this manner,ange 28, with the spring socket member 2SA aixed thereto, may be rotatedon iiange 26 to permit the device to oscillate in any selected plane (ina manner to be described subsequently).

The upper end of spring 18 is supported to the lower end of body member10 such as by means of a bolt 34. Spacers 24 may likewise be provided toinsure a snug fit of the upper end of spring member 18 within the lowerend of the body member 10.

Supported to the lower end of body member 10 and downwardly extendingtherefrom is a iiexible strap member 36. This may be supported by meansof hooks 38 fastened in eyelets 40 which have been welded to the bodymember 10 or to the lower surface of the lowest handhold members 12.Fixed to the strap member 36 are a series of staggered stirrups 42preferably made of Asome iiiexible material such as cotton webbing,plastic or the li e.

The strap member 36 may be composed of two separate lengths of straps ofsome flexible material such as cotton webbing, leather, plastic, or soforth. The preferred arrangement as shown includes the provision whereinthe strap member 36 consists of a singular tubular member of someflexible material or plastic which surrounds the spring member 18 andwhich may be fastened around the spring member 18 by means of a zipper,buttons, hooks, or such member may be. completely sewed in place (asshown).

In use, the device of this invention provides a swaying, oscillatorymotion which is beneficial both from the standpoint of providingexercise and amusement and recreation. Although the device may beutilized by humans of any age it is especially attractive to children.When a child plays on the device he may mount it by means of thestirrups 42 and hand-hold members 12 to the height he desires. Whenastride the body member 10 with his hands either on the taped portion 14or holding to one or more of the hand-hold members 12 the riderinitiates the oscillatory motion of the device by swaying his body backand forth. The action of spring 18 permits the Ibody member 1i) to swaythrough a substantial arc and reproduces a form of recreation known tothe older generation as a willow whip, that is, the swaying actionchildren have formerly amused themselves with by Iriding a slenderwillow tree back and forth in an oscillatory manner.

The provision of the strap member 36 has several advantages. First, suchstrap member supports the strrup members 42 to enable the user to easilyclimb upon the device. Metallic elements are not easily aixed to springmember 18 since welding to spring material normally destroys thespring-like characteristic of the material. In addition, the fabrics orplastic material 'making up the strap member 36 'protects the users frombeing injured by the lower metallic portionsof the device. This isespecially true when the strap member 36 is composed of a tubular fabricportion completely surrounding the spring 18, as shown;

The provision of spacers 24 permit additional spring leaves 18 to beadded to the device. When heavier riders utilize the device it may 4benecessary to add one or more additional spring members 18. These caneasily be substituted in place of the spacers 24.

The invention as shown in FIGURE l is mounted in the earth 20. This isthe method in which it is used outdoors. It is to be understood that itwould equally be useful in a gymnasium, and especially importantapplication includes mounting the device in the bottom of aswimming-pool to provide a swaying motion above the water of the pool.

FIGURE 2 shows the embodiment wherein the spring socket member 28A is ofa square cross-sectional configuration and shows the provision ofspacers 24 snuggly holding the spring member 18, flange 23 functions asa reinforcing member to prevent the spring socket member from beingsplit out by stress to one side and another as the device isreciprocated in use. member 28 in a preselected position. The device canbe easily removed -by removing bolt 30 and lifting it out of placeleaving only the flange 26 barely protruding unob` trusively above theearth.

With the provision of a multiplicity of threaded openings 53 in ange 26(only one of which is shown in FIG- URE l) flange 28 may be rotated to avariety of positions to permit the device to oscillare in differentplanes.

FIGURE 3 shows an alternate arrangement of the invention. In thisembodiment a relatively short spring section 18 is utilized requiringthe use of a longer body member (only the lowest portion of which isshown in the drawing). In the embodiment of FIGURE 3 the utilization ofa multi-leaf spring 18 is shown. In this embodiment only a relativelyshort strap member 36 is shown and the use of this is optional. Stirrups42 would normally be utilized only by the smallest riders in thisembodiment.

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIGURE 3showing the use of a`multi-leaf spring member 18.

Another embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGURE 5. flexible polemember 44. Although the pole member 44 may be fabricated of a variety ofmaterials, the ideal material is fiber glass. The pole is supported in atubular earth socket member 22. Inone embodiment the pole member 44 isvertically supported in the socket member 22 permitting the pole member44 to be freely rotated while in use. In the embodiment shown a flange28 and pole socket 28A is provided secured tothe pole member 44 with apin 46. Pole ange 28A may be fastened to earth flange 26 by bolt 30 asdescribed with reference to FIGURE l to serve the same function.

In its simplest embodiment the invention consists of a flexible taperedpole member 44 supported to a playing surface, such as the earth 20,including the provision of a removable pliable strap or fabric member 4Ssupported to the top of the pole, the strap member 48 having aiiixedthereto at alternate spaced intervals a series lof stirrups 5?. Aspreviously described the strap member 4S may consist of two separatestrips of iiexible or pliable ma- This embodiment utilizes a longtapered Bolt 30 holds socket terial, but in the preferred arrangement,and as shown in FIGURE 5, strap member 48 is a unitary `tubular memberfixed to the upper portion of pole 44, such as by being sewn inposition.

Inan alternate embodiment, and as shown in FIGURE 5, the upper end ofthe flexible pole member 44 is provided with a short metallic,preferably tubular, body member 10 having the hand-holds 12 aspreviously described. Body member 10 is aflixed to the upper end of pole44 by means of bolts 52. The provision of the relatively short tubularbody member 12 provides a means whereby the user of the device may holdto it and in addition provides means for supporting the downwardlyextending strap member 48.

The cross-sectional Views of FIGURES 6, 7 and 8 show the arrangement ofvarious portions of the embodiment of FIGURE 5. FIGURE 6 shows meanswhereby bolts 52 support the upper tubular body portion 10 to the upperend of rod 44.

FIGURE 7 shows .the fabric or strap member 48 supported about the lowerend of the tubular body 10 and shows the provision of the extendingstirrup members 50.

FIGURE 8 shows means whereby pole 44 extends from the pole flange 28.

Although the invention has been described with a certain degree ofparticularity, it is manifest that many changes may be made in thedetails of construction in the arrangement of components withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of this disclosure.

What is claimed:

1. An oscillating pole recreation device for use by a rider, comprising:f

a tubular vertically mounted socket member open at the top thereof;

a tapered exible pole rotatably received at the lower end in saidtubular socket whereby said pole is substantially vertically supported,said pole flexible within the elastic limits thereof under the weight ofa rider, the upper end of said tubular socket member terminating inabase flange;

a tubular rod flange receiving and supporting said rod at the lower endthereof, said rod ange contiguously supported on said base flange as thelower end of said rod is received by said tubular socket;

means at the top of said pole providing a hand hold for the riderthereof; and

step ,means supported to said rod along at least the lower lengththereof providing means whereby the said rider may climb upwardly onsaid pole.

2. An oscillating pole recreation device according to claim 1, includinga metallic tubular member tted over a portion of the upper end of saidpole and including at least one short cylindricalv metallic memberaflixed to and extending substantially perpendicular from said tubularmember, said metallic member serving as said hand hold providing means.

3. An oscillating pole recreation device according to claim 1, includingdownwardly extending flexible strap means affixed to said tubularmember; and

stirrup means Iafxed to and extending from said strap means at spacedintervals.

References Cited by the Examinerl UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,198,537 4/1940Jones et al. 272-60 2,831,685 4/1958 Stewart 272-601X 2,949,298 8/1960Speehnan 272-1 3,069,160 12/1962 Bulecki.

OTHER REFERENCES Sports Illustrated Magazine, Feb. 26, 1962, volume' 16#8, pages 10413.

RICHARD C. PINKI-IAM, Primary Examiner.

G. K. KITA, Assistant Examiner.

1. AN OSCILLATING POLE RECREATING DEVICE FOR USE BY A RIDER, COMPRISING:A TUBULAR VERTICALLY MOUNTED SOCKET MEMBER OPEN AT THE TOP THEREOF; ATAPERED FLEXIBLE POLE ROTATABLY RECEIVED AT THE LOWER END IN SAIDTUBULAR SOCKET WHEREBY SAID POLE IS SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICALLY SUPPORTED,SAID POLE FLEXIBLE WITHIN THE ELASTIC LIMITS THEREOF UNDER THE WEIGHT OFA RIDER, THE UPPER END OF SAID TUBULAR SOCKET MEMBER TERMINATING IN ABASE FLANGE; A TUBULAR ROD FLANGE RECEIVING AND SUPPORTING SAID ROD ATTHE LOWER END THEREOF, SAID ROD FLANGE CONTIGUOUSLY SUPPORTED ON SAIDBASE FLANGE AS THE LOWER END OF SAID ROD IS RECEIVED BY SAID TUBULARSOCKET; MEANS AT THE TOP OF SAID POLE PROVIDING A HAND HOLD FOR THERIDER THEREOF; AND STEP MEANS SUPPORTED TO SAID ROD ALONG AT LEAST THELOWER LENGTH THEREOF PROVIDING MEANS WHEREBY THE SAID RIDER MAY CLIMBUPWARDLY ON SAID POLE.